From cannabis to AI: Proposed Kalamazoo data center sparks questions about the future in Milwood
A proposal to convert a former cannabis grow facility in Kalamazoo's Milwood neighborhood into an AI data center has sparked community debate. While city staff determined the project aligns with existing industrial zoning, residents are organizing in opposition due to concerns about energy and water usage, noise, and potential job displacement.
Michael Ward, owner and CEO of Harbor Farmz, has proposed selling his cannabis grow house in Kalamazoo's Milwood neighborhood for redevelopment into an AI data center. Ward claims the 32,850 square foot facility, located at 2839 Full Circle Drive, already possesses the necessary infrastructure for power-intensive operations and is in an M2 high-intensity industrial zone, which city staff confirmed as a permitted use for such a facility.
The proposal has ignited strong community opposition in Kalamazoo, with residents expressing concerns about potential impacts. Issues cited include significant strain on local infrastructure from water and electricity demands, increased air, noise, and heat pollution, and the broader societal implications of AI on jobs. The community has begun organizing meetings, protests, and informational panels to learn more about data centers and their potential costs and benefits.
While there is no formal application currently under review for the Kalamazoo project, the article notes that other Michigan townships, such as Texas and Solon, have already enacted moratoriums on data center construction to study their potential impacts and draft new zoning regulations. Furthermore, Michigan House Bill 5846, the Data Center Overlay Districts Act, is proposed to grant local governments greater authority to regulate large-scale data centers. Kalamazoo residents are determined to prevent the proposed data center from moving forward.